NEXT LEVEL
HACKATHON
2026
Build the next generation of AI, product innovation, and startup-ready solutions. Join 500+ global developers, designers, and founders to create impactful technology.
⏱ Submission Deadline · March 23, 2026 @ 2:30 AM IST
Next Level Hackathon 2026 is a global virtual hackathon designed for developers, engineers, designers, and product innovators who want to build technology that goes beyond simple prototypes.
This event brings together a global community of 0+ builders to design and develop impactful solutions using modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Cloud Infrastructure, and emerging developer tools.
During the event, participants will be able to:
- Build innovative projects using modern technology stacks
- Collaborate with talented developers and creators from around the world
- Receive mentorship and technical guidance from experienced professionals
- Present projects to an international judging panel
- Gain valuable experience building real portfolio projects
The hackathon welcomes developers, designers, product managers, startup founders, students, and technology enthusiasts who are passionate about building impactful technology.
To be eligible for judging, all teams must complete their project submission through Devpost and include the following components:
Choose Your Domain
Each track has a defined problem space evaluated by domain experts. Pick what matches your vision.
Your Role Awaits
Whether you're here to build, evaluate, or empower — there's a place for you at Next Level Hackathon 2026.
Open to Everyone: Professionals, students, founders, developers, designers — all countries welcome!
- $7,001 in cash prizes
- Internship opportunities with top companies
- Mentorship from industry leaders post-event
- Collaboration invites from sponsor organizations
- Certificates of Excellence for all finalists
- Global developer recognition & spotlight
- 200 free AI API units from Perfect Corp
- Evaluate cutting-edge production-ready projects
- Deliver structured, impactful feedback
- Global recognition as a hackathon judge
- Network with top engineers & founders worldwide
- Feature in our post-event showcase
- Invitation letters available for international guests
- Brand visibility to a global developer audience
- Direct access to top engineering talent
- Custom API / SDK integration tracks
- Co-branded prizes and developer spotlights
- Speaking & mentorship opportunities
- Recruitment pipeline for exceptional builders
$7,001 in Prizes
Cash awards, internships, mentorship, career opportunities, and recognition on a global stage.
Track Prizes
Key Milestones
Mark your calendar — every deadline is a commitment to ship.
Meet the Judges
Our judges are selected through a rigorous vetting process to ensure the highest quality evaluation. Each expert is hand-picked from leading tech companies based on their industry experience, technical expertise, and track record.
Venkata Krishna Bharadwaj Parasaram
Senior Project Manager
Thermo Fisher Scientific
ProfileSuresh Kumar Thulasi Ram
Senior AI & Cloud Professional (Independent)| Hackathon Judge & Evaluator
Senior AI & Cloud Professional (Independent)| Hackathon Judge & Evaluator Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
ProfileShri Lakshmi Rajagopal
Sr.Automation QA Engineer
Debrath Banerjee
Senior Software Engineer
Walmart Inc
Pravin Barapatre
Software Engineering Manager
Kamalakar Reddy Singi
Senior software Engineer
Abbott
Chandrayee Kumar
Lead software engineer
UST global
Jenil Shah
Software Development Manager
Vijaya Bhaskar Oggu
Principal Member of Technical Staff
Independent Researcher
ProfileInterested in Judging?
Join our elite panel of experts. Only the top 11% of applicants are selected through our rigorous vetting process. Contact us to learn more.
Meet Our Elite Judges
41 industry-leading experts from top tech companies, constantly rotating to showcase their expertise
Venkata Krishna Bharadwaj Parasaram
Senior Project Manager
Thermo Fisher ScientificVenkata Krishna Bharadwaj Parasaram is a Senior Project Manager and AI Researcher at Thermo Fisher Scientific with over nine years of experience in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and healthcare analytics. He leads large-scale, NIH-supported clinical research initiatives across 400+ sites...
Judging Criteria
Every submission reviewed by domain experts across five weighted dimensions with structured, actionable feedback.
Requirements
Production-ready solutions demonstrating technical excellence and genuine real-world applicability.
- Technical Excellence: Well-architected systems, efficient code, and scalable solutions.
- Innovation & Creativity: Novel approaches, unique features, or new applications of technology.
- Real-World Applicability: Demonstrated impact or potential for adoption in practical scenarios.
- UX & Documentation: Clear UI/UX and supporting docs explaining the workflow and architecture.
- Solutions can be web, mobile, cloud platforms, APIs, data pipelines, or full-stack applications.
- Project Title & Description: Clear summary of problem, solution, and approach (200–300 words).
- Solution Demo: Screenshots, video walkthrough (2–3 min), or live demo link.
- Technical Documentation: Architecture diagrams, code explanation, APIs, libraries, and frameworks.
- Code Repository: GitHub/GitLab with clear instructions to run or test the solution.
- Team Details: Names, roles, and LinkedIn profiles of all team members.
Build Smarter
Everything you need to design, develop, and deploy your hackathon solution.
The best builders don't wait for permission. Join developers, designers, founders, and professionals worldwide and prove what you're capable of — one commit at a time.